Drum coupling



p 1943- x I R. A. NICHOLSQN 2,3;28fi59 DRUM COUPLING Filed Aug. 18, 1941 1 IIIIIIIII Patented Sept. 7, 1943 I V DRUM couIfLINGQ Q iRalph m lqicholson Chicago, Ill., assignor to 'Itaymo'nd 'I Moloneyg" Chicago, Ill. I. Appu aen}Aug stin, 19 1i, serial No. 407,333 cam was 5* .This invention pertains to coupling. devices l of :the type used to nconnect a valve or. conduitfor the like with aidruml or tanko'r'the like.

1 One of the'principalv objects is a. simple device for mounting .a valvegassembly or head on. aisupply drum to establishv anw'air tight: coi1pling-rand a mechanically strong support-for the valve ahead. 4..., Another object is, toaprovide a; .cor nbination support and coupling for usewitlna supply, drum of thetype having athroat surroundedflbysan apron-or skirt, ,the. ;coupling and-support consisting simply of platessurrounding thefithroat and held in gripping air-tight engagement therewith by coaction with the valve head, which is attached to the plates so, as to press against the outlet to the throat, the pla'tes extending for connection with the skirt for additionalsupport and rigidity.

Viewed from another aspect,.the broadly essential features of novelty of the invention reside in the provision of a plurality of mounting plates formed to fit around a-throat or conduit si ma "1. n ing an upstandingrim kirt, or apron 2| formu ne en p thedmm ing part f. a chime 22 which is welded onto the The foregoing*constructiomit may be/observed, makes possible a drum having a rounded. end

wall with consequent strength to withstand about which they are held firmly by connection with the member to be coupled, which member is held by coaction of the plates and throat or conduit, in air-tight engagement with the latter.

Other objects, advantages and features of novelty reside in details of the construction, assembly and functional cooperation of the preferred embodiment hereinafter described in view of the,

annexed drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective of a drum with the coupling engaged therewith;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross section of the drum and coupling;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of a pair of coupling plates; i

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail through'one of the coupling plates as viewed along lines 44 in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 1 there is indicated generally at Ill what higher internal pressures, for use with carbonated beverages and the like; while the skirt makesit possible, to stand the drum on end, and

also facilitates handling the drum inview of t e fact thatit lends itselfto the provision of large nchrje sf .f rm 'na'h n l w 1; eith a e Qr j can ans deified end of lthe barrl -dr m t er s f rmed a ime '24 (Fig. 2) opening upwardly and having a beaded or turned upper, edge providing a coupling flange, bead, or protusion of known construction.

The recessed base structure I Il1 of the valve head is. adapted to fit down closely upon the flangedmouth of the throat; as illustrated in Fig.2, for engagement with the coupling means now to be-described.

Referring conveniently between the several figures, the novel coupling structure comprises a pair of identicalmounting plates each having throat-engaging formations in the form of semi-circular or arcuate recesses or inflections 3| at one end, and elongated screw-receiving slots 32 at an opposite end.

Adjacent the throat-engaging formations on each plate are several bolt-receiving formations 33, preferably in the nature of metal slugs spotwelded or fluxed to the plates and drilled and tapped as at 35, Fig. 4, to receive the threaded ends 34a of attaching bolts 34 extending through may be termed a valve head or coupling, which consists of a base or flange portion ll having a plurality of bolt bosses l2 disposed thereabout, each of which is 'a threaded bore to receive nipples l4 connectinginto valves l5 and IS.

The underside of the flange is recessed as at I! (Fig. 2) to receive a sealing gasket 18 of rubber or the like, which is to be pressed against by action of the coupling assembly, as will presently appear. I

While the novel coupling will cooperate with a variety of flanged throats or conduits, it is especially suited for use with the construction chosen for illustration, that is to say, with a steel {5 bosses l2. p v

By tightening the bolts 34, it is apparent that the portions immediately adjoining the recessed parts 3| of the plates will be clamped tightly up against the underside of the throat bead or flange 25, thus in turn clamping the underside of the 'baseportion ll of the valve head, and the gasket securing screws. I

In the illustrative embodiment the druni 20 .is intended to contain a quantity of beverage, while the valve nipples l5 are to be connected respectively to a source of compressed carbon dioxide or other gas, and to a dispensing line neir, ther of which is illustrated.

The assembly is installed by simply fitting the recessed throat-receiving formations against the throat,.engaging.and tightening the bolts 34, and

It will be apparent thata larger number of plates 30 could be used, if desired for any reaj son, and that the invention embraces such ex- H principles and means disclosed, as well as all other modifications fairly coming within, the

ambit of the improvements shown, described, and I p shape to that portion of the throat engaged thereby, whereby the set of plates may be fitted claimed.

I claim:

1. For use with a drum of the type hayingan upstanding rim at an endand an upstanding tinoat concentric of said rim andprovided fiang'e means near the entrance theretd-"coupling means comprising, in combination with a member to be coupled w'sam -throat,*the following im- 'pro-yem ents,' namely; aset of coupling 'plates adapted tobe arranged on'opposite sides ofjsaid. "throat and each having a throat-enga'g-ingiorma- "tion shaped. to inter fitw ith" the throat whereby saidplatjes in assembled condition substantially surround said throat in a horizontal plane immediately beneath said flange'means, said member to be coupled resting upon the: throat 'at the entrance'thereto above said flange -means, bolt means interconnecting said member to be tensions of the broad structural and functional 17?: ambientrelation to the latter, each said plate oppositely remote. from. the inflected portions coupled. and said plates and serving to clamp 'the member and plates against said flange means fito draw the member to be coupled in air-tight fit against the throat, and means supportably attaching each of said plates to said rim at ends of the plates opposite from the throat-engaging formations thereon.

2. In combination, a container having a throat with -,coupling protrusions adjacent the mouth pled to said container and seated uponthe mouth of said throat, a set of coupling plates, two-or more in number, arranged in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said throat in circumnaving an inflected portion complementary in closely about the throat as aforesaid, bolt means therebetween and draw said member to coupled firmly against*the mouth of the throat and V bracket means attached to said skirt at points of said plates for supporting: the latter.

3. .Thefcombinatlon of claim 2 in-Which bolt means extends from said member to he eouple'd into threaded engagement with said: plates, eachplate having one or more slugs spot welded thereon and tapped for thr RALPH A. Nicholson. 

